Major Chinese chip maker SMIC reportedly shipped 7nm chips in 2021, despite facing US sanctions aimed at limiting its development. TechInsights reported on July 21 that the Shanghai-based firm was shipping the chips – two generations ahead of the mature 14nm chips previously established by the company – for use in bitcoin mining. The breakthrough comes amid rules imposed by US authorities that were meant to ban China’s semiconductor developers from acquiring such technology and required US suppliers to apply for a license to ship any advanced equipment to SMIC. According to a report from Reuters earlier this month, the US is already considering whether to tighten these restrictions. [Bloomberg]